New River firefighters practice with live fire training

Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 07:13 AM.

Lance Cpl. Patrick O’Hara, a newly graduated fire academy Marine, was at the point of one of two hoses, spraying water on the “Osprey” at 30 times the pressure and power of a regular garden hose.

“It’s really difficult,” O’Hara said, huffing and puffing, his face flushed after the training was over. O’Hara added that this live fire was only the second one he’s fought outside of the academy.

Behind O’Hara was another ARFF Marine, holding O’Hara up as the pressure of the hose forced him backward — and ready to jump in and take O’Hara’s place when he became exhausted.

“It’s very physically demanding,” said Staff Sgt. Curtis Sliger, O’Hara’s section leader. “It’s like a linebacker on an NFL team constantly hitting somebody all the time, so until that fire is out, they’re constantly getting pushed back.”

Sliger said the Marine behind O’Hara — who constantly rotated out with other Marines because of the physical exertion required for his position — was just as important — if not more so — than the Marine at the point of the hose.

While Marines in general are known for their physical fitness levels, the Marine firefighters on MCAS New River are expected to be even better than their brothers in other fields.

Sliger said the 19 Marines under his command all had first-class PFT (physical fitness test) and CFT (combat fitness test) scores. He added that some of his Marines will work out three or four hours out of the day.

Editor’s note: This article is part of a year-long series commemorating the 100th anniversary of Marine aviation, which began on May 22, 1912, when 1st Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham reported to Annapolis, Md., for flight training.

Armed with futuristic, silver-coated uniforms, air tanks on their backs and a hose spraying out 150 pounds of water per square inch, the Marines of MCAS New River Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) were ready for battle.

It was during their monthly live fire training that a few new Marines — fresh out of the fire academy — and some of their more experienced comrades set a mock steel Osprey ablaze and practiced various techniques aimed at putting out the fire.

Lance Cpl. Patrick O’Hara, a newly graduated fire academy Marine, was at the point of one of two hoses, spraying water on the “Osprey” at 30 times the pressure and power of a regular garden hose.

“It’s really difficult,” O’Hara said, huffing and puffing, his face flushed after the training was over. O’Hara added that this live fire was only the second one he’s fought outside of the academy.

Behind O’Hara was another ARFF Marine, holding O’Hara up as the pressure of the hose forced him backward — and ready to jump in and take O’Hara’s place when he became exhausted.

“It’s very physically demanding,” said Staff Sgt. Curtis Sliger, O’Hara’s section leader. “It’s like a linebacker on an NFL team constantly hitting somebody all the time, so until that fire is out, they’re constantly getting pushed back.”

Sliger said the Marine behind O’Hara — who constantly rotated out with other Marines because of the physical exertion required for his position — was just as important — if not more so — than the Marine at the point of the hose.

While Marines in general are known for their physical fitness levels, the Marine firefighters on MCAS New River are expected to be even better than their brothers in other fields.

Sliger said the 19 Marines under his command all had first-class PFT (physical fitness test) and CFT (combat fitness test) scores. He added that some of his Marines will work out three or four hours out of the day.

“If you can’t have endurance and be physically fit, you’re not going to be able to rescue anybody,” Sliger said. “Instead, you’ll become a victim in a fire.”

For that reason, firefighting is a young Marine’s job, with most of the firefighters under Sliger’s command between the rank of private first class and sergeant.

The firefighters at MCAS New River are trained constantly, even though they are rarely called to an actual aircraft fire. They have to be able to get fully dressed in their firefighting gear — including their air tank — in under 90 seconds, and can be at the scene of any New River crash in less than three minutes.

Even though there aren’t many aircraft crashes on the base that require the firefighters’ attention, Sliger said they are often called out for hazardous material situations, since all the Marines are part of a certified HAZMAT team.

Many of the firefighting Marines are also certified emergency medical technicians, and all are considered first responders.

Sliger said he and his Marines are an essential piece of the New River pie.

“We’re like insurance,” he said. “You may go through your entire life never getting sick or getting in accident, but the one time you do and you don’t have it — you’re kind of out of luck.”